Get to know the local food in Hawaii

The Big Island is a haven of cultural and ethnic diversity. The many immigrants that once made the move to Hawaii each contributed something to the local cuisine. This means that the Big Island has a very interesting and unique food scene! If you are (even slightly) adventurous when it comes to food, you are bound to have a good time sampling all the local specialties of Hawaii.

With “local food” we mean both locally grown and/or produced foods that are also well known outside of the Hawaiian islands, such as coffee, chocolate, and beer, as well as the “truly” local food whose recipes are unique to Hawai’i.

You might think that pineapples are the token Hawaiian fruit, but they actually originate from Brazil! Locals consider them an export product rather than part of their culture (read more pineapple facts here).

Coffee, Chocolate, Beer and Macadamia nuts

Hawaii’s tropical climate allows for the production of many exotic crops that you cannot find anywhere else in the Unites States. Hawaii is the only state where coffee is commercially produced, which has led to the world famous Kona coffee and the just as tasty but less well-known coffees from the Ka’u, Puna and Hamakua districts.

Chocolate is another of the exotic crops that is grown on the Big Island. The cacao is farmed organically on the rich volcanic soil, and afterward locally processed and sold on Hawaii. Hawaiian macadamia nuts are the healthier local product. These nuts are among the most healthy of the world and are connected to e.g. lower cholesterol levels.

The “real” local food in Hawaii

There are many snacks that are typically Hawaiian other than the “Big 4” listed above. Some of these snacks were already consumed by the traditional Hawaiian population. Others are the result of the unique ethnic melting pot that has become current-day Hawai’i.

If you happen to see any of these snacks during your vacation on the Big Island, we heartily recommend having a bite!

Poke

is raw fish marinated typically with soy sauce, onions and lemon (but many other marinades also exist). It is very typical to Hawaii and comes in an array of styles. Available in most restaurants, but also in the supermarkets. The local KTA supermarket, for example, is a good place to pick up some poke.

Spam Musubi

is the local adaptation to the traditional “sushi” hybrid – made with SPAM. Hawai’i is the biggest consumer of SPAM of the country and perhaps even of the world. People in Hawai’i love the stuff! Give the SPAM version a chance, it is really tasty (even though it doesn’t sound like it.)

Po’i

is a traditional Hawaiian “pudding” made from the taro root. It was a main source of carbohydrate for the native Hawaiians.

Lomi Lomi Salmon

is a fresh tomato and salmon salad. It is a traditional side dish served at Hawaiian Luaus.

Laulau

consists of fish and pork wrapped in taro and ti leaves and smoked in an underground emu oven.

Kālua Pig.

Kālua is a traditional Hawaiian cooking method that utilizes an emu, or underground oven. The word kālua literally means “to cook in an underground oven” and also describes the flavor of food cooked in this manner. Kalua pig is traditionally served at Hawaiian Luaus.

Haupia

is a traditional Hawaiian dessert made from coconut milk and cornstarch.

Loco Moco

is a favorite local style dish with steamed rice, a hamburger patty, fried egg and brown gravy. Guaranteed to get you through the day!

Mochi

(small Japanese rice cakes) are now a very popular snack in Hawaii. For one of the best tastes of the Island, go to Two Ladies Kitchen in Hilo and ask for the Strawberry Mochi!

Huli Huli Chicken

Huli means ‘to turn’ in the Hawaiian language, and it is a great description of these chickens. They are roasted golden brown over a grill while they are continuously turned.

Malasadas

are Portuguese sugared and fried balls of fluffy yeast dough. Tex Drive Inn in Hanoka’a serves (according to us) the best malasadas on the Big Island, with a close second place for the Punalu’u bake shop.

Malasadas (or malassadas) are Portuguese sugared and fried balls of fluffy yeast dough. They are bad for you but SO tasty!

This entry was last modified: May 12th, 2018 by Love Big Island

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